Kristoffer Hyldig

Piano

Kristoffer Hyldig is one of Denmark‘s leading pianists, recognized for his musicality and a highly personal, sensitive approach to music. Known for his versatility, he is in demand as a soloist, as well as chamber musician and lied accompanist, and his concerts are often broadcasted on Danish Radio. He is a founding member of Messiaen Quartet, Copenhagen, where his work comprises artistic programming as well as closely working with composers, commissioning and premiering new works.

Hyldig made his debut in 2010 at the Royal Danish Academy of Music after completing his studies with Niklas Sivelöv and Tove Lønskov. The works of Messiaen have always been an important part of his repertoire, and besides Oiseaux Exotiques, the complete songs and Quartet for the End of Time, Hyldig also performed Turangalîla Symphony with the Royal Danish Orchestra conducted by Michael Boder. Gramophone Magazine, UK, selected his recording of Messiaen’s Harawi with Hetna Regitze Bruun as an Editors’ Choice.

In 2009 Hyldig received the jury’s special prize in the EU Piano Competition in addition to being awarded the Jacob Gade’s Grant, Léonie Sonning’s Talent Prize and the Danish Music Critic’s Artist Prize. He has also participated in several Zentropa movies both in the soundtrack and on screen as well as providing incidental music used in plays at The Royal Theatre in Copenhagen. His recording of Messiaen’s Vingt Regards sur l’enfant Jesus, released in 2023, received overwhelming reviews both nationally and internationally, and received the Danish Radio P2 Award as Album of the Year 2023; the leading Danish newspaper Politiken awarded the release as Best CD of the year 2023.

Reviews:

Classics Today (US) 10/10 (Max) Jed Distler, August issue 2023
“The pianist’s instinctive feeling for and total command of the composer’s colorfully intricate piano writing impressed the hell out of me. I imagined just how well Hyldig might fare in Messiaen’s solo piano music. Imagine no longer. We now have the reality of Hyldig’s new recording of the piano cycle Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus, and it’s magnificent in every way.”

International Piano, UK- Bruce Morrison – September issue 2023
“Even alongside Steven Osborne’s superb recording and Bertrand Chamayou’s recent account, as well as, of course, Yvonne Loriod’snaturally authentic account, Kristoffer Hyldig takes his place among the Regards’ finest interpreters.”

Gramophone UK, Harriet Smith – August Issue 2023
“As the cycle unfolds, Hyldig is a persuasive celestial tour guide, bringing out the three main ideas that underpin Messiaen’s vast structure while ensuring they’re an innate part of the narrative.”

Piano News 4-2023, Germany – Carsten Dürer: Interpretation: 6 Klang: 6
“Messiaen’s opus is a true cycle, one held together by a few recurring themes that represent something magical-metaphysical. And it is precisely this cohesion that Hyldig is able to portray, so that the listener is drawn into the spell of the phases of Jesus’ genesis and listens to the interpreter with emphasis. It is a remarkably intense and impressive presentation of one of the great piano cycles of the 20th century. Be sure to listen!”

Telegraph – London Newspaper – June 7. Ivan Hewet 2023 5/5 (Max)
“A magnificent new recording of Messiaen’s piano masterpiece.”